DECEMBER 2014 \ BUILDING DIALOGUE \
85
The Poets of
Structure:
Form and
Function
K
nown for making use of aes-
thetic and rhythmic qualities to
supplement design, just as poets
use those qualities of language to
evoke feeling, Boulder-based en-
gineers Christopher “Chris” O’Ha-
ra and Julian Lineham have been called
poets of structure.
These so-called lyricists of form founded
Studio NYL Structural Engineers | The Skins
Group in 2004 on the notion that the cre-
ative use of structure can elevate architec-
tural design. The company is known for its
holistic approach that integrates architec-
ture and structure, and for bringing state-of-
the-art systems, materials and technology to
edify its projects.
O’Hara and Lineham, both lifelong stu-
dents of architectural history and design,
say their
raison d’etre
is their passion for ar-
chitecture, which took root early and man-
ifested in each of them as a desire to help
architects create great architecture. Inspired
by beauty both natural as well as contrived,
their imaginations are fired by architecture.
“Our whole purpose is to raise the level of
design by supporting our architectural col-
leagues,” says O’Hara. The goal is always to
supplement the architects and help them
WORDS:
Jill Ladwig
